Article carrier

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an article carrier for an automobile including two side rails fixedly secured on a generally horizontal extending exterior automobile body surface. The side rails extend generally longitudinally of the automobile. A pair of bracket members are disposed on the side rails and a cross bar extends laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to the bracket members. A means on each of the article securing members cooperate with the side rails for detachably securing and longitudinally adjusting the cross bar upon the side rails.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/540,879filed Jun. 20, 1990 entitled "Article Carrier", now U.S. Pat. No.5,082,158 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/246,771, filed Sep. 20,1988 entitled "Article Carrier", now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an article carrier for automotivevehicles, more particularly, to an adjustable cross bar for an articlecarrier on an automotive vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art

Automobile luggage racks frequently employ two separate subassemblies orportions: a rectangular framework which surrounds the load to be carriedand a plurality of slats which rest on the roof or other automobile bodysurface and carries the weight of the load. In such constructions, theframework and the slats are often secured to the automobile bodyindependently of one another. In still another automobile luggage orarticle carrier, a cross bar replaces the framework as a means forconfining the luggage upon the slats.

In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,471, I disclosed an article carrier forautomotive vehicles having crossbars which can be adjusted on the slatsand are easily removed, interchanged or adjusted in position on theslats in accordance with the needs of the user. This construction hasachieved significant commercial success. Nevertheless, some problemshave been experienced in providing an aesthetically pleasing and moresimple to use rack. Therefore, it is believed that a need exists for across bar which has an attractive appearance of modern luggage carriersbut which possesses a degree of adjustability and ease of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an article carrier for an automobile includingtwo side rails fixedly secured on a generally horizontal extendingexterior automobile body surface. The side rails extend generallylongitudinally of the automobile. A pair of bracket members are disposedon the side rails and a cross bar extends laterally between and securedadjacent its opposite ends to the bracket members. A means on each ofthe article securing members cooperate with the side rails fordetachably securing and longitudinally adjusting the cross bar upon theside rails.

One advantage of the present invention is a cross bar which isattractive in appearance and has a greater degree of adjustability andease of operation. Another advantage of the present invention is a crossbar which can be adjusted infinitely along the length of the side rails.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that the cross barnests with the front rail member when not in use to provide a moreaesthetically pleasing and aerodynamically efficient article carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automobile showing anarticle carrier mounted thereon which is constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the structure similarly illustrated in FIG. 1showing the cross bar unnested;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the structureillustrated in FIG. 2 taken in the direction of arrow 3;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3 takenalong line 5--5 thereof showing a locking member in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a view of the structure similarly illustrated in FIG. 5showing the locking member in an open position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 5 takenalong line 7--7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the structureillustrated in FIG. 1 taken in the direction of arrow 8; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 8 takenalong line 9--9 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an automobile 20 having a roof 22 on which aremounted a plurality of identical, parallel, transversely spaced slats24. Although the slats 24 are shown mounted on the roof 22, the articlecarrier of the present invention may be mounted with equal utility on anautomobile trunk lid or any other generally horizontal exterior bodyportion of an automobile. The slats 24 are secured on the roof 22 bymeans of sheet metal screws (not shown). The article carrier alsoincludes a pair of parallel, transversely spaced side rails 26. Each ofthe side rails 26 are disposed on the other side of the outermost slat24 such that the slats 24 are transversely spaced between the side rails26. A front rail member 28 is disposed between and generallyperpendicular to the front ends of the side rails 26 and has aconfiguration that cooperates with the aerodynamic shape of a glassairfoil 29. A rear rail member 30 is disposed between and generallyperpendicular to the rear ends of the side rails 26. The side rails 26and members 28 and 30 are secured on the roof 22 by means of sheet metalscrews (not shown). Mounted on the side rails 26 is a tubularrestraining or cross bar 32 which is fitted at its opposite ends ontobrackets 34. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cross bar 32 nests with thefront rail member 28 when not in use or in a stowed position. Thispresents a more aesthetically appealing and aerodynamically efficientarticle carrier.

Referring to FIG. 3, the bracket 34 includes a locking member 36 forlocking the cross bar 32 into position along the side rail 26. Thelocking member 36 allows the cross bar 32 to be positioned operably atany location or infinitely along the length of the side rail 26. Whennot in use, the locking member 36 is pivotally disposed to a generallyhorizontal position to be stored within a cavity or pocket 38 of thebracket 34 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cross sectional configuration of the bracket 34is generally elliptical. The bracket 34 includes a pair oflongitudinally spaced feet 40 at the bottom thereof which slide alongthe upper supporting surface 42 of the side rail 26. The feet 40 have aconfiguration similar to an inverted "T".

Referring to FIG. 5, the side rail 26 includes a channel member 43disposed in a longitudinally extending groove or first channel 44 formedin the side rail 26. The channel member 43 comprises a bottom wall 46and a pair of generally parallel upwardly extending side walls 48 withinwardly extending ledges 50 at the upper ends of the side walls 48. Theupper supporting surface 42 is part of the ledge 50. The bottom 46 andside 48 walls form an upwardly opening second channel 51 which is widerat its bottom than at the top.

The locking member 36 comprises a wall portion 52 and a base portion 54at one end of the wall portion 52. The base portion 54 includes meansforming a pair of first apertures 56 in it and a pair of correspondingshafts 58 having one end disposed in the first pair of apertures 56. Thepair of shafts 58 have another end disposed in corresponding secondapertures 60 formed in the bracket 34 (FIG. 7). A retainer member 62having longitudinally spaced arms 63 is secured by screws 64 to thebracket 34 such that each arm 63 retains a corresponding shaft 58 in thesecond apertures 60. The shaft 58 allows the locking member 36 to bemanually moved or rotated from a closed locking position of FIG. 5 to anopen unlocked position of FIG. 6.

The locking member 36 also includes means forming a third aperture 66communicating transversely through the base portion 54. A second shaft67 passes through the third aperture 66. A spring member 68 has one end70 wrapped or disposed about the second shaft 66 and a U-shaped end 72opposite the one end which cooperates with the ledge 50 on the channelmember 43. The spring member 68 flexes to engage the ledge 50 andcontact a shoulder portion 74 of the bracket 34 to secure the bracket 34to the channel member 43 when the locking member 36 is in the closedposition. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the locking member 36 is movedto the open position, the U-shaped end of the spring member disengagesthe ledge 50 to allow the bracket 34 to slide along the channel member43 of the side rail 26.

Referring to FIG. 7, the upper surface 76 of the locking member 36 issubstantially flush or planar with the upper surface 78 of the bracket34. This presents a smoother contour upper or outer surface of thebracket 34.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict an article securing or tie-down member 80integrally formed or molded with the side rail 26. At least one tie-downmember 80 is found along the side rail 26 and extends inwardly towardthe opposing side rail 26. The tie-down member 80 includes an apertureor eyelet 82 to allow a rope or the like to pass therethrough forsecuring articles to the article carrier. Preferably, the eyelet 82 iselliptical in shape.

In operation, the locking member 36 secures the bracket 34 in a positionalong the channel member 43. An operator manually grasps the lockingmember 36 and moves it upward to an open position as illustrated in FIG.6. The operator then slides the bracket 34 and cross bar 32 along thechannel member 43. When the cross bar 32 is at a desired location, theoperator pushes the locking member 36 toward the roof 22 of the vehicleto engage the end 72 with the ledge 50 to lock the bracket 34 in itsposition. The process may be repeated.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. Itis to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intendedto be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within thescope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:
 1. An article carrier for an automobile comprising:a pluralityof slats fixedly secured on a generally horizontally extending exteriorautomobile body surface, at least a pair of said plurality of slats eachforming a side rail extending generally longitudinally of said exteriorautomobile body surface; each of said side rails having an upper articlesupporting surface and a generally smooth, continuous, semi-arcuateouter surface curving upwardly and inwardly relative to each other whensaid side rails are secured to said exterior automobile body surface; apair of bracket members, each said bracket member being disposed upon anassociated one of said side rails; a restraining bar extending betweeneach of said bracket members and secured at its opposite ends to eachsaid bracket member; means on each said bracket member cooperable withsaid bracket members associated side rail for detachably securing eachsaid bracket member into its associated side rail and for adjustablypositioning each said bracket member at an infinite number of positionslongitudinally along its associated side rail; said means for detachablysecuring and adjusting each said bracket member including a lockingmember, said locking member being manually rotatable in a plane orientedtransverse to its associated bracket member between an open position,whereby said bracket member may be slidably moved longitudinally alongits associated side rail and removed therefrom, and a closed positionwhereby said locking member operates to secure its associated bracketmember at a selected position along its associated side rail; each saidbracket member having an elongated spring member operatively coupled toits associated said locking member and extending generally transverselyof its associated side rail for lockably securing said bracket member toits associated said side rail, said spring member further being operableto abuttingly engage a shoulder portion of said bracket member tothereby further maintain said spring member secured to said side railwhen said locking member is in said closed position; and each saidbracket member and its associated said locking member having outersurfaces, said outer surfaces forming a generally smooth, continuous,semi-arcuate profile in smooth, semi-arcuate conformance with said outersurface of said side rails to thereby form the appearance of anintegrally formed structure.
 2. The article carrier of claim 1, furthercomprising a front rail member disposed between and generallyperpendicular to end portions of each of said side rails;said front railmember having an upper surface and extending vertically above saidexterior automobile body surface a distance sufficient to place saidupper surface of said front rail member in general co-planar alignmentwith said upper surface of said cross member.
 3. The article carrier ofclaim 2, wherein said cross member may be lockably secured closelyadjacent said front rail member to thereby form an aestheticallypleasing and aerodynamically efficient configuration.
 4. An articlecarrier for an automobile comprising:a plurality of slats fixedlysecured on a generally horizontally extending exterior automobile bodysurface; a pair of said slats forming side rails extending generallylongitudinally of said exterior automobile body surface, each of saidside rails having a generally smooth, continuous, upwardly and inwardlycurving outer edge surface, said pair of side rails having an upperarticle supporting surface; each said side rail having a bracket member,each said bracket member having a generally smooth, continuous, upwardlyand inwardly curving outer surface cooperating with said outer surfaceof said side rails to form a generally smooth, continuous, upwardly andinwardly curving profile; a restraining bar having an upper surface,said restraining bar extending between said bracket members and coupledat its outermost end portions to said bracket members, said uppersurface of said cross member cooperating with said outer surfaces ofsaid bracket members to form a generally smooth, continuous, integrallyformed appearing portion of said bracket members; each of said bracketmembers including a locking member rotatable in a plane orientedtransverse to said side rails and movable between open and closedpositions, said locking member being operable to secure its associatedsaid bracket member fixedly at an infinite number of positions along itsassociated said side rail, said locking member further being operablewhen in said open position to enable its associated said bracket memberto be completely detached from its associated said side rail; each saidlocking member further having a smooth, semi-arcuate shaped outersurface cooperating with said outer surface of its associated saidbracket member to form a smooth, continuous, semi-arcuately shapedsurface portion of said associated bracket member; each said lockingmember further having an elongated spring member operatively connectedthereto, said locking member extending outwardly of said bracket memberand adapted to detachably engage a portion of one of said side rails,said elongated spring member being operable to abuttingly engage aportion of said bracket member to thereby further secure said bracketmember and releasably locking engagement with said one of said siderails; and said outer surfaces of said bracket members cooperating withsaid outer surfaces of said side rails and said upper surface of saidcross member to define a generally smooth, continuous surface to therebyprovide an appearance of an integrally formed cross member structure. 5.The article carrier of claim 4, wherein said spring member is operableto flex to enable a portion thereof to abuttingly engage a shoulderportion of said bracket member when said locking member is moved intosaid closed position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising afront rail member having an upper surface, said front rail memberextending between and generally transversely of said side rails at endportions of said side rails, said upper surface of said front railmember having an elevation sufficient to place an upper surface inco-planar alignment with said outer surface of said cross member, tothereby form an aesthetically appealing and aerodynamically efficientshape when said cross member is positioned via said bracket membersclosely adjacent said front rail member.